Apple WatchOS 7

The new iOS 14 was released for Apple products, swiftly following behind it was the WatchOS 7 updates for Apple Watches

 This update has some of the most intricate and detail-oriented features I have seen come for a watch update. This update will be applicable to series 3, 4, 5, SE, and 6. Let's dive into some of the elaborate features WatchOS 7 has to offer!

It seems like Apple came into the briefing room with family, safety, convenience, and customization in mind when they were bringing ideas to the table. Adding a new feature called "Family Setup", allowing you to pair your child, parent, or any family member's watch to your iPhone. Adding the Memoji feature to be used on their watch, used as stickers, or making a custom watch face to add some ease of access.

Fitness

    Fitness was a big focus on this update for Apple Watches, now allowing you to customize all of your Activity goals. Adding in stand hours and exercise minutes rather than calories to get a better goal for you to accomplish your rings successfully. Apple has also reengineered its Active Health for kids, turning the active calories into Move Minutes, being able to calculate metrics for distance and pace more suitable for a child. The family feature also added in setting your child's usage time of their watch, setting when they're in school, need to be asleep, or limit the features usable on their watch. Sharing your location through the Find My Friends app has been slowly increasing by the popular demand of parents or family members. You are not able to get notifications on when someone gets to their destination, or notification if someone is not where they are supposed to be

Family First

    Apple Pay was another addition Apple decided to throw into the watch features, giving you the option to send money through your watch more easily. Features like fall detection and emergency SOS is a safety feature Apple brought in that I think will be very helpful with the idea of "family safety". Asking the user if they would like to call emergency services when they might have taken a fall, keeping them safe when you might not be able to be there. 

Watch Faces

    Customization on the watches interface is something that Apple has been improving every year since the watch has come out. Now giving you the option to create your own watch face from scratch, adding in any minor details you might want to see on your watch. Acknowledging that only having one app on the watches face could cause complications, but calling them "powerful new complications" as something new to learn but enjoy. Being able to have quick tasks like sending a text, changing a song during a workout, or just a quick glance to see your families smiling faces with the time. Sending custom watch faces to a friend or family member is a feature that I was a bit surprised by. If customization of your watch was not enough, you can now customize other people's watches for them!

Sleep App

    The Sleep app is a new feature that came along with the update filled with an insane amount of additional features to utilize. Adding in Sleep Mode as one of the features for users, scheduling when Do Not Disturb turns on or off, providing a sleep chart for the night or for the week. Setting reminders for yourself on when you need to start winding down, and a more welcoming good morning than your average jolting, alarming sound.

Hand Washing

    It is no surprise that washing your hands while we are in a pandemic has become more important than ever. Apple, being an advocate for healthy lifestyles and better practices, created an app to make washing hands more productive. Their new addition of Hand Washing automatically detects when you begin washing, helping you go for the amount of time that is recommended by Global Health Organizations. Using motion sensors and your microphone, a 20-second timer will start when it detects you washing your hands.

These are just some of the few features that come along with the update of WatchOS7! If you want to find out more information about the most recent update, check out Apple's summary! 

As always, thank you for reading and any questions or concerns can be answered by contacting the IT Help Desk.

Stay healthy Hornets!

Dakota Taylor
Social Media Student Assistant
Web & Digital Strategies

Shocking New iOS 14 Features

If you are an Apple Product user like a lot of us here in IT, you would know that the most recent software update of iOS 14 for iPhone and iPad was released yesterday. This update was a long-awaited arrival for some, packing in a lot of new features for users to enjoy. 

Today's writing will be an overview of some of the features that stuck out to us in this packed iOS 14 update! iOS 14 can be used on iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, XS, XS Max, XR, X, 8, 8 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, SE (2020, 2016), and 7th gen. iPod Touch.

App Library

    The App Libray is a new feature never seen before on Apple products. Putting all of your applications in one easy to use library one swipe over from your usual app pages. Editing your pages of applications is a breeze, whether you like lots of pages or one page of 6 apps, there are finally options for customization. 

Widgets

    Speaking of the home screen, Apple did not fall short of the bar. Being able to add in widgets for your calendar, weather, clock, stocks, and many more. Although they did not add customizations for third party applications, I imagine that there will be updates to come that added those options.

        (Batteries, calendar, clock, files, fitness, maps, music, news, notes, photos, podcasts, reminders, screentime, shortcuts, Siri suggestions, stocks, TV, tips, and weather.)

Picture-in-Picture

    In the past, we have had to "pause" when we leave a Facetime call, and have the green icon at the top of the screen. Apple really pulled a wild card on the PiP capability on this update. Bringing the call to a smaller tile on your home screen that allows you to remain on the call, but also be on your phone. This isn't just with Facetime, but several other media playing apps as well.

Translate App

    Google translate was a needed app for some, and Apple not providing that feature was something a lot of people had brought up. Well, ask and you shall receive just like a lot of the new update features, iOS 14 provides an application called Translate. 

    Being designed for 11 different languages that can be used in conversation setting in conversation mode, or in offline mode. Conversation mode allows you to turn your iPhone to landscape orientation. Tapping on the mic icon to begin talking, and automatic language detection transcribes what you are saying in real-time. The translation provides the text on the screen, followed by translated audio. 

This is just a brief overview of the incredible amount of detail that went into the update. Apple listened to their users for this update which is very obvious, thankfully enough we can expect updates with bugfixes, and later improvements expanded within the software.

As always, questions and concerns can be answered by contacting the IT Help Desk.

Stay healthy Hornets!

Dakota Taylor
Social Media Student Assistant
Web & Digital Strategies

Microsoft Teams for ESU

Microsoft Teams is now being rolled out to students of Emporia State to utilize! Teams is a speedy and productive communication tool for students, faculty, and staff to use! We have been going through all of the options that could be a valuable tool to incorporate within the class and office. We will be going through all of the basics of what you need to know, walkthroughs to follow along with, and screen recordings to make things a little easier. 

Downloading and Logging in

The first thing you would need to do is download Teams for your device, whether it be an application on your phone or your personal computer. To download Teams, you would paste “esutechsite.com/teams” in your URL bar at the top of your browser. Click “Get Teams”, you’ll then be taken to a Microsoft page that will detect the appropriate version for your device, then click “Download Now”. Run the installer or follow the prompts for your device.

Now that you have Teams, it’s time to log in. When prompted, enter yourusername@emporia.edu, even if you don’t have an @emporia.edu email account. Yes, use @emporia.edu, even if you don’t have an @emporia.edu email address. In Microsoft Land, it’s just part of your account. And remember you can’t use your @g.emporia.edu address--that's Google services only. And that’s it, you are not all set to begin using Microsoft Teams at ESU.

Creating a Group

Microsoft Teams is a tool for securely chatting, video calling, and collaborating with your group, team, or other students. You can chat with one, two, or as many ESU users as you’d like. But for ESU groups and student organizations, we can set up a special team that has your members preloaded for you. 

This is called a SharePoint Group for students. In addition to maintaining a list of group members, your SharePoint Group will also provide online file storage for hosting any files you share within Teams. To request a SharePoint Group, go to esutechsite.com/teams, and select "Teams for Students". Scroll down to Groups. Click “Request a SharePoint Group for Students”. Only advisors or organizational leadership should make requests.

Once your request is approved by the Center for Student Involvement, you’ll be able to access your new Group by clicking the “Teams” Icon from the left-hand menu bar within the Teams application. Once we’ve set up your Group, you can add or remove membership through the web portal or via the IT Help Desk!

Video Calling

You can do a video call with one, two, or as many ESU students as you’d like. Simply click the “New Chat” icon. Enter the name or username of the user or users you’d like to call.

You can video call an individual or add as many users to your group call as you’d like. With one click, you can start a video call with your entire group! And if you or your users don’t have a webcam, they can still join via audio. With Microsoft Teams, you have on click communication with individuals--however, you prefer to collaborate. 

Sharing Files

Sharing files is easy within Teams, start a new chat or go to an existing one. Or if you are an ESU group or organization, click "Teams" and then go to your group. Now, click the paper clip icon and select the file you’d like to share. Type a message if you’d like, then click the “send” icon. 

That’s it! Now that you have shared the file within anyone in that chat or Group.

To see your previously shared files, click "Files" at the top of the chat window. 

Chat + History

You can chat with any ESU user that you would like, simply click on the “New Chat” icon. Enter the name or username of the user or users you’d like to chat with.

You can chat individually, or add as many ESU users to your chat as you’d like. Now that you have added your users, it’s time to talk! Start typing, send them an emoji, send them a file--whatever you’d like.

And the best part, your chat history is retained from day one. You’ll never have to wonder if you shared that file or remembered to share a message--it’s all there to search or scroll through. We like to say it goes back to the beginning of time--at least the time you started using teams!

The Web Version

Teams is available for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android but it’s also available from your web browser, and here’s how you can get to it. Go to esutechsite.com/teams and click "Login". Enter your username in the form of username@emporia.edu. 

Yes, use @emporia.edu, even if you don’t have an @emporia.edu email address. In Microsoft Land, it’s just part of your account. And remember you can’t use your @g.emporia.edu address--that Google only. Once you’ve entered your username, enter your ESU password. 

And that’s it, the web-based version of Teams will load and you’re all set to begin chatting, calling, and collaborating!

As always if you have any questions regarding anything tech related